Historic Japan on San Francisco Bay

July 17, 2013 10:37 a.m. ET

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The owner, William Simon, purchased this property overlooking the San Francisco Bay in Tiburon, Calif., for about $1.4 million in 1999, according to public records. Mr. Simon was looking for an 'ultra contemporary' house, and at first declined to see this property. But when his agent eventually convinced him to tour the property, he said he instantly changed his tune. 'It was almost a transformative experience walking into this,' he said.
Travis Pynn…

The home was designed by Len Brackett, the owner of the Nevada City, Calif.,-based firm East Wind (Higashi Kaze), Inc., which specializes in creating traditional Japanese homes and what he calls Westernized Japanese homes such as this one. Originally measuring about 2,400 square feet, Mr. Simon worked with Mr. Brackett to nearly double its size to about 4,700 square feet. Mr. Simon estimates spending $5.2 million on the renovation, which primarily took place from 2004 to 2006.
Matt McCourtney…

Mr. Simon, 66 years old, works in the design and fashion manufacturing industries and has held executive positions at apparel company The North Face and Converse, among others. In accordance with traditional Japanese design elements, Mr. Simon said that there are far fewer nails used in the home construction as compared with Western homes, and that all the finishes are hand carved and unvarnished.
Matt McCourtney…

All of the finishes in the home are finely hand carved, to the point where the wood is smooth to the touch and almost glass-like in texture, Mr. Brackett said. Some of the woods used in the home include sugar pine, Port Orford cedar, western red cedar, American chestnut, black acacia and California nutmeg, Mr. Brackett said.
Matt McCourtney…

Mr. Simon, who describes himself as having an assertive, Type-A personality, says he loves this home because of its calming nature. 'It took me down from Triple-A [personality] to D,' he joked. One of the home's two enclosed verandas, or engawas, is shown. Mr. Brackett said the engawas serve as a transitional space between the interior and the gardens.
Matt McCourtney…

Mr. Brackett, who co-wrote the book 'Building the Japanese House Today,' which was published in 2005, says this home is inspired by the Taishō period of architecture in Japan, from 1912 to roughly 1926. He appreciates its very formal, yet 'country house' influences, he said. A shoji-screened space in the home is shown.
Matt McCourtney…

A deck on the home overlooking the San Francisco Bay is shown. Mr. Simon says he is selling because he is based in New York and has less time to use the property. He said he'll miss the home's calming energy. 'You just feel like you've escaped from the hectic pace of the modern world,' he said.
Matt McCourtney…

The home includes five bedrooms and five bathrooms. The master bathroom, which has views of the bay an interior rock garden, is shown. Many of the home's high-tech features, such as remote controls for sliding partitions and lighting, are hidden behind the walls.
Matt McCourtney…

The home operates on the principle that 'each movement brings something new,' Mr. Simon said. A rock garden, shown here, can be seen from the master bedroom, but the opening can also be enclosed with a shoji screen-like glass partition.
Matt McCourtney…

The idea of blending nature into the home is also prominent in its design, Mr. Simon said. This bathroom features an Ofuro-style soaking tub.
Matt McCourtney…

But the home also infuses modern touches in its design. This bathroom includes granite surfaces and a large glass shower that Mr. Simon calls 'the eagle's nest,' because of its expansive views of the water and surrounding landscape. Privacy has never been an issue, he said, thanks to the home's position on the property.
Matt McCourtney…

The gardens of a traditional Japanese home are just as important as the interior, Mr. Simon said. Several water features and lush landscaping can be found across the nearly 1-acre property.
Matt McCourtney…

The kitchen is shown.
Matt McCourtney…

The home was listed in August 2011 for $7.9 million. The price was lowered to $6.9 million in November 2011 and has remained at that price, according to Bill Bullock, one of the listing agents. Mr. Bullock and Lydia Sarkissian, both of Decker Bullock Sotheby's International Realty, share the listing.
Matt McCourtney…